It’s December 1st. The beginning of Advent. The countdown to Christmas, and subsequently the New Year. The past few years, I have come to very much enjoy this particular part of the year – this winding down of time and reflecting back on previous months – and the opportunity to draw close to God and prepare my heart for His presence made visible in the world.
This year, especially, I am very excited for Advent. You see, for me, this year has been marked with change, challenge, and character-building in more ways than one. At times, it’s just been down-right hard and painful. I’ve cried, questioned, doubted, and wrestled with things that I never thought I’d have to. I’ve all too often felt on top of the world one minute, only to feel like I’ve been run over by a bus the next. But somehow in the midst of all this, my faith has been stretched and strengthened, growing and transforming me in newer and better ways than I could ever imagine.
It’s funny how God works – the irony and mystery and backwards way of God – so foreign and contrary to our world and society. The idea that in order to be built, we must be broken. That in order to stand on the heights, we must be brought lower. That to live in fullness, we must be emptied. It doesn’t always make sense at the time, but I can see the rhythm of His work following these trials and less than desired circumstances, and understanding comes in the evidence of what He creates and breathes into me through these.
Following a difficult eleven months, I’m desperate for God and what He longs to bring into my heart and life in this season. I’m seeking and pursuing Him – anticipating the hope of glory that only He can deliver. I’m curious to see what He’ll teach me and how He’ll reveal Himself to me over these next 25 days. I bought a journal specifically for the next few weeks and have two new devotionals to dive into – one for morning and one for evening. My prayer and my longing is to draw close to God in this sacred and holy time, and really experience Him in this most magical and beautiful season. To be filled with Him and Him alone – and more deeply discover the true meaning and purpose of Christmas, the joy of “God With Us.”
************************************************************************************
“Advent is about the waiting, anticipating, yearning. Advent is the question, the pleading, and Christmas is the answer to that question, the response to the howl. … Advent allows us to tell the truth about what we’re grieving, without giving up on the gorgeous and extravagant promise of Christmas, the baby on his way. … Let yourself fall open to Advent, to anticipation, to the belief that what is empty will be filled, what is broken will be prepared, and what is lost can always be found, no matter how many times it’s been lost.”
Shauna Niequist, Bittersweet
“Jesus claims exactly these who are wandering and wondering and wounded and worn out as His. He grafts you into His line and His story and His heart, and He gives you His name, His lineage, His righteousness. He graces you with plain grace. Is there a greater Gift you could want or need or have? … This, this, is the love story that’s been coming for you since the beginning.”
Ann Voskamp, The Greatest Gift
Beth Lenhard says
What more could we possibly want?! Emmanuel ~ “God with us”